Bawku youth give authorities 2-week ultimatum over forest depletion

Youth of Zongoire, Binaba and Kusanaba in the Bawku West District of the Upper East Region have given the Forestry Commission, the Ghana Police Service and the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) a two-week ultimatum to stop the indiscriminate depleting of the Savanna area.

According to them, there is a depletion of the Savanna as a result of illegal logging in the forest, especially the cutting down of Rose trees, by some companies within the district.

They claimed the agencies have given the companies permits to engage in the felling of trees. Addressing the media after a demonstration which saw them visit the forestry area, the youth of these communities said the “illegal” logging has been going on for some time now and is affecting the forest reserve as well as causing climate change, which is adversely affecting their livelihoods especially low rainfall for farming and its related activities.

Spokesperson for the youth Atindogo Samson Akugida underscored the various legislations as well as regulations by Forestry Commission passed towards the protection of Savanna forest from depletion.

He therefore wondered how the permits are given to “people to deplete the forest without any plans to replace with planting of trees in that area”. Rose trees have been the target due to its economic advantage, according to the youth, and the benefits in the international market especially in Asia.

The youth claimed no permits were produced by the perpetrators when they visited the site. They also alleged that the acts are done at night and loaded into containers in the day.

Worse of all, they claim, whistle blowers in the district have “received several threats by some big men in Ghana”. The youth say after two weeks they will express their displeasure if nothing is done about the situation.